Ink fountain and liner therefor



Aug. 14, 1945. R. c. SANDMAN INK FOUNTAIN AND LINER THEREFOR 4SheetsSheet 1 fizz/rzzor" Roer/CZSandrnan File i April4, 1942 v Aug. 14,1945-.

R. C. SANDMAN INK FOUNTAIN AND LINER THEREFOR N 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 4, 1942 .Zkfnfor: Robert C Sandman Jttomgs Aug. 14, 1945. Q M N2,382,103

INK FOUNTAIN AND LINER THEREFOR Filed Apri1 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet s 1fiferzzork Rater! (I Jarzd'man 1945' R. c. SANDMAN I 2,382,103

INK FOUNTAIN AND LINER THEREFOR Filed April 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INK FOUNTAIN ANDLINER THEREFOR Robert Sandman, Euclid, Ohio, minor toAddressograph-Multlgraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Application April 4, 1942, Serial'No. 437,71) Claims. (Cl.101-365) This invention relates to ink fountains for printing andduplicating machines.

More specifically, this invention relates to a disposable andreplaceable liner which is especially adapted for use in printing andduplicating machines of the character in which relatively very viscousink is employed and which is applied from a stationary ink fountain toan inking roll from which it is transferred tothe printing orduplicating mechanism in the machine.

The ink which is customary employed in such ink fountains is generallyin the form of a paste which is applied to the fountain and transferredto an ink roll by wiping or'f-rictional engagement of the latter withthe ink. It is desirable or necessary, in the use of such duplicatingapparatus,

- to clean the ink fountain fromtime to time and this involves somedifficulty because, among other reasons, f the fact that the ink tendsto stain the hands of the operator and this cleaning operation is, ingeneral, an unpleasant task.

An object of the present invention is to enable an ink fountain of aduplicating or printing machine to be readily cleaned, as and whendesired, without staining or soiling the hands of the operator.

The customary practice heretofore in the art has been to place therelatively very viscous ink or ink paste directly in or upon the body ofthe ink fountain itself and to remove the ink fountain from thduplicating or printing machineand clean it as and when necessary.Itwill be appreciated that this has required that the entire well orbody of the fountain itself be cleaned with consequent soiling of theoperator's hands. Accordingly, another object of the invention is toafford a novel liner for use in an ink fountain of a duplicating orprinting machine employing very viscous ink or ink paste which may bespread upon the liner itself, rather than uponthe body of th inkfountain itself, as has been the cus practice heretofore, so that theink fountain may readily be cleaned and the ink supply in the inkfountain replenished by merely removing the liner from the fountain anddisposing of it and replacing the old liner thus disposed-of .with a newliner to which a fresh supply of ink may be applied.

Another object of the invention is to afford a novel disposable linerfor the ink fountain of printing and duplicating machines of thecharacter hereinbefore referred to and which is not' only resistant tothe wear or abrasion caused by the frictional or wiping engagement ofthe ink fountain roller with the relatively veryviacous'ink or in]:paste carried by the liner but which is also permanently resistant tothe corrosive action of the ink itself. 7

An additional object of the invention is to afford. a novel and simplebut eflicient' retaining device for detachably holding the liner inposition of use upon the ink fountain of a lithographic printing orduplicating machine or the like.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and will be understood by referenceto the accompanyin drawings which, by way of illustration, showpreferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now considerto be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying thatprinciple. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, e Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view'of aduplicating machine embodying an ink fountain of the characterhereinbefore referred to and having a typical form of the new removableliner detachably mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,

on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the new liner in position of useupon the ink fountain of a duplicating machine;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of atypical form of ink fountain on whichthe new disposable liner may be employed, as embodied in the duplicatingmachine which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,

and showing the new disposable liner removablymounted thereon; a

Fig. 4 is a perspective rview of a preferred embodiment of the newdisposable liner itself; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of, a typical andsuitable means which may. be employed for mounting the new disposableliner in position of use upon the ink fountain of a. rinting or dupli-'cating machine;

.Flg. 6 is a perspective view of an ink fountain similar to that shownin Flg. 4 but having mounted thereon a preferred form of retainingdevice for holding the bio liner in position of use thereon;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred i which is shown form ofliner-retainihg device in position of use in Fig. 6; and

8- 8 is a-transversev sectional Atypical lithographiceduplicatingapparatus view on line embodyingan ink fountain of the character withwhich the present invention may be employed ,is fragmentarilyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of by way of an idler roll l2, intermittentrolls II and II, to a printing cylinder II and thence to.

impression-receiving paper or the like, or, in

the case of offset lithographic printing, by way of an offset rotaryprinting blanket roll. I

It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is notconcerned with the construction of the duplicating or printing machinewith which the new disposable liner may be employed and hence a detaileddescription of the duplicating machine will not be given and only suchparts will be described herein as are deemed necessary for anunderstanding of the present invention.

A typical form of an ink fountain with which the present invention maybe employed, and as embodied in the duplicating machine which isillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown in Fig. 3,

wherein the same is generally indicated at It upper surface of thedoctor blade 21 and between the latter and the peripheral surface of theink fountain roller II, with the upwardly extending end walls or flanges32c abutting the inner surfaces of the end walls I! of the ink fountainII, and with the lower end portion 32b of the liner bearing upon thesurface of the downwardly extending lower flange 29 of the ink fountainIt, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The new disposable liner may be held in position' of use upon the inkfountain ii in various ways, within the scope and contemplation of thisinvention, and one means for accomplishing this result-comprises a groupof spring clips or clamps 33 which are adapted to be frictionaliyengaged upon the upwardly extending flange 23 of the ink fountain It soas to clamp the substantially and comprises a frame or body ll havingend walls It each of which is provided with a bear-v ing surface it.Each of the end walls is includes a pair of spaced arms Isa and thespace between each pair of arms ila provides an inlet or mouth to theadjacent bearing surface it.

Each of the bearing surfaces '19 is adapted for the reception of asquared end portion or'bearing surface 20 of a stationary trunnion orhearing which is carried by the frame ll of the duplicating or printingmachine with which the A ink fountain I6 is employed.

a The frame I! of the ink fountain It includes an upwardly extendingflange 2 3 which is composed of a pair of plates 24 and 25 which areinterconnected by screws 26 (Fig. 3) and held by and between theseclamping plates 24 and 25 is a downwardly extending plate or doctorblade 21 which projects downwardly and tangentially relative to theperipheral surface of the ink fountain roller ll. 7

The ink fountain It also includes a horizon-' tally extending bottomwall .28 having an angular and downwardly extending flange 2| andmounted in a horizontally extending flange ll of the ink fountain is arow of horizontally extending adjusting screws 3| which are adaptedtobear at their inner ends against thedoctor blade 21 so as to adjustthe latter, and the disposable liner arranged thereon, relative to theperipheral surfaeeof theink fountain roller II.'

A typical form of the new disposable is illustrated inFlg. 4 andcomprises an oblong sheet of material 32, a preferred composition ofwhich will be described hereinafter. In the practice of the inventionthe sheet 32 is preferably formed, in any suitable manner, into theshape.

,showninFig.4,soastoaifordapairofsubstantain I 8, over the doctor blade21, and bending the flange or portion 32a of the liner over andaroundU-shaped portion 32:: of the liner 3! over and .upon. said upwardlyextending flange 23 of the ink fountain l6.

In order to attach the new disposable liner 3! 'upon the ink fountain I!the latter may be lifted 'oflf from the frame 10 of the machine and theliner I? placed'in position of use thereon, in the mannerhereinbeforedescribed. The removal of the ink fountain 16 from itsposition of use upon the machine is accomplished by turning the inkfountain clockwise, from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2,until the spaces or mouths afforded by and between the arms m of the endwalls is of the frame H of the inkfountain" are- I in Fig. 2, may thenbe appliedto-the upper surface of the liner 32, substantially midwaybetween the upper and lower ends thereof, and extending from end to endof the liner as shown in Fig. 2. The ink fountain It with the thusapplied disposable liner may then be installed in position of use uponthe machine, this being accomplished by holding the ink fountain withthe arms 18a of the end walls l8 thereof in such position that said endwalls is may be slipped downwardly over the squared end trunnionportions 20. The ink fountain it may then be moved downw until itassumes the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings. when thus positioned the ink fountain and the disposableliners 32 carried thereby will be disposed substantially in the positionin which they are shown in Fig. 2, and when so disposed the ink I (Fig.2) which is disposed upon the upper surface of the liner 32. engages theperipheral surface of the rotary ink fountain roller II from which itmay be transferred to other parts of the duplicating or printing machinewithwhich the ink fountain l6 and the new disposable liner 82 thereonmay be used, in.a

mannerwhich need not be discussed herein. When it is desired to cleanthe ink vfountain is having the new disposable liner 32' attached theupper-portion of the upwardly extending flange 23 of the ink fountainII. The body of the liner 32 is then extended downwardly over theythereto, it is merely necessary to remove the ink fountain lxandattached liner-32 from position of use in the duplicating or likemachine with which they are employed and to detach the liner 32 frompositionof use upon the ink fountain l6 byremoving the spring clips'orclamps 33. The thus removed liner 32 may then .bedisposed of, leavingthe ink fountain l6 itself substantially free from ink since in thepractice of the invention the ink I is carried by the liner 32 and doesnot come into contact with the doctor blade 21 or with other parts ofthe ink fountain I6 itself. A new liner 32 may then be installed uponthe ink fountain IS, in the manner hereinbefore described, and aquantity of ink applied thereto, whereupon the ink fountain with thethus installed liner may then be reapplied in position of use upon theduplicating or printing machine with which they may be employed,

friction or drag is exerted upon the liner 32 by rotation of the inkfountain roller ll so that the liner 32 must be resistant tosuch-friction or drag and resulting abrasion as well as to the corrosiveaction of the ink and solvents to which it is exposed, as well as to theaction of water and water-colored inks. Hence, it is not possible to useas and for the new liner any and all sheet materials, such a ordinarypaper and the like, which might be cut or formed in the desired shapeand applied to the ink fountain I6 in the manner in which the new liner32 is appliedthereto since most of such materials are either notsufllciently resistant to the corrosive action of the ink or inksolvents to which they would be exposed or, if so,'will not withstandthe abrasion resulting from the frictional drag of the ink fountain'roller II on the ink Iwhich is carried by the liner 32.

However, I have found that suitable sheet material for use in making thenew disposable ink fountain liner 32 is the copolymer of vinyl chlorideand vinyl acetate which is available upon the market under the tradename Vinylite (Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation), and I havefound that a sheet of this material approximately 0.003" thick, cuttodesired length and width necessary to enable it to fit upon the inkfountain I6, is very suitable for use in the practice of the presentinvention. Such a material is disclosed in United States Patent No.1,175,882 to Charles 0. Young and Stuart D. Douglas which discloses acopolymer of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate polymerized in thepresence of lead tetraethyl, Pb-(CzHs) 4, this material being flexibleso that it may readily be installed in position of use upon an inkfountain and being permanently resistant to' the corrosive action of thesolvents employed in the like as well as resistant to the friction ordrag and consequent abrasion caused by the limited to the use of thespecific material hereinbefore referred to.

While thespring clips 33 aifordsuitable means for holding the newdisposable liner 32 in position of use upon an ink fountain illustratedin the drawings, a preferred retaining device for holding the liner inposition of use upon an ink fountain is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of thedrawings and comprises a member 34 which is substantially U-shaped incross section (Fig. 84) and is preferably formed of suitable resilientmetal, such as spring steel, so as to afford a pair of spring clampingjaws which are interconnected by a bight portion 36, attached to thebight portion-36, in any suitable manner, as by soldering, welding orthe like, is a backing member 31, which is preferably metallic, and thismember 31 extends beyond the ends of the spring clamping Jaws 35 so asto afford a pair of handle portions or finger grips 38.

The backing member 31 affords rigidity and strength to the retainingdevice 34, as well as affording the finger grip or handle portions 38 atthe ends of the retaining device, and while the backing member 31 isshown as being formed of a separate piece of metal attached to the bightportion 36, it is contemplated that within the scope of the inventionthe member 31 maybe made integrally with the parts 35-36, that is tosay, that the retaining device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 may be madeentirely of or in one piece, and in any suitable manner.

In the use of the retaining device which is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8,the latter may be readily applied in position of use, as shown in Fig.6, so as'to hold the liner 32 upon the ink fountain i6 by slipping thespring clamping jaws 36 upon the fountain after the manner in which thespring clamps 33 are inserted thereon. However, it will be noted, inthis connection, that the rigid backing plate 31 and the handle portions38 of the retaining-device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 facilitateinserting the retaining device 34 in position of use upon the inkfountain l6 and for this purpose the handle or finger grip portions. 38of the backing member. 31 projects beyond the end walls ill of thefountain I6 so that the retaining device 34 may be readily inserted intoposition of use upon, and removed from, the body of the ink fountain l6by grasping the handle or finger grip portions 38 of the liner-retainingdevice 34.

I have found that when the new disposable liner is made from a sheetcomposed of a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, ashereinbefore referred to, as well as when made from other materials, itis preferable that the grain of the sheet run parallel to the short axisof the liner and transversely relative to its long axis,

sinceotherwise there is a tendency for the liner 4 sheet to crack whenit is being bent into position lithographic printing and duplicatinginksand of use upon the ink fountain. Moreover, when thus arranged thefrictional drag of the ink over the liner and the resulting wear on theliner sheet'are materiallyreduced or minimized relative to the frictionand wear to which the liner would be subjected if the grain of the linersheet extended parallel to the long axis of the liner sheet and parallelto the long axis of the ink fountain roller, rather than transverselyrelative thereto, asis preferred, for the reasons stated.

While a sheet composed of a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylacetate, as hereinbefore referred to, is especially adaptable for use inmaking the new disposable liner where the latter is to be exposed to theaction. of lithographic inks, I have found that parchment is a verysatisfactory material for making the new disposable liner for uses inwhich the liner will not come into contact with water, as when usingwater colors.

I have also found that when the new disposable liner is to be exposed tothe action of water.

colors it may well be made of waxed paper which is resistant to suchmaterials. However, the

use of waxed paper for this purpose is limited to uses in which theliner will not be exposed to the action of any solvent for the wax.Moreover, I have found that where the new disposable and vinyl acetatehereinbefore described.

It'will thus be seen, from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the upon an ink fountain of a duplicating or printingmachine or the like and eliminates the necessity for, as well as thedifllculties involved in cleaning such ink,fountains, while being at thesame time permanently resistant to the corrosive action of ink solventsto which it may be exposed in use as well as being resistant to abrasioncaused by the friction of" drag of the rotary ink fountain roller incontact with the relatively thick or resinous ink carried by thelinenwhen inuse.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present inventlonaccomplishes its intended objects including those which have beenspecifically pointed outhereinbefore.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a liner for an ink fountainconsisting of a sheet of material formed to provide a bottom wall andupstanding portions at opposite ends of said bottom wall affording endwalls, said material having a grain therein, the end walls at oppositeends of said bottom wall being disposed in substantially paralliner isto be employed in conjimction with offaccompanying drawings, that theforegoing in- .vention aflords a novel disposable liner for use fountainand relative to said ink fountain roller.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 in in substantially parallelrelation to the grain of the material to thereby enhance the wearresistance of the liner.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a liner for an ink fountainconsisting of a sheet of material composed essentially of a vinyl resin,said sheet being formed to provide a bottom wall and upstanding portionsat opposite ends of said bottom wall affording end walls, said materialhaving a grain therein, the end walls at opposite ends of said bottomwall being disposed in substantially parallel relation to the grain ofthe material whereby enhance the wear resistance of the 5. In aduplicating or printing machine or the like, the combination of, an inkfountain, an ink fountain roller adapted to convey'inkfrom said inkfountain to printing or duplicating apparatus in the machine, a sheetadapted to be removably mounted upon said ink fountain in position toretain a quantity of highly viscous duplicating -or printing ink or inkpaste in said fountain in contact with said ink fountain roller but outof contact with the body of said ink fountain, and

. means for removably attaching said sheet upon said ink fountain, saidink fountain including means for adjusting said sheet and the inkcarried thereby relative to the body of said ink which the grain of saidsheet extends transversely relative to the long axis of said inkfountain roller.

7."Ihe combination as defined in claim 5 in which the sheet is composedof a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

a. The combination as defined in claim 's m which the sheet is composedessentially of a vinyl resin.

paratus'in the machine, a sheet adapted to be removably mounted uponsaid ink fountain in position to retain a quantity of highly viscous lelrelation to the grain of the material to thereby enhance the wearresistance of the liner.

the wear reslstance'of the liner.

3.. As a new article of manufacture, a liner for an ink fountainconsisting ofa sheet of material composed of a copolymer of vinylchloride and vinyl-acetate polymerized in'the presence of leadtetraethyl, said sheet being formed to provide a bottom wall andupstanding portions at opp site .endsofsaidbottomwallaifording'endwalls. said "oppositeendsofsaidbottomwallbeinglpooed duplicating or printing ink or ink paste in said fountain incontact with said ink fountain roller but out of contact with the bodyof said ink fountain, and means for detachably clamping said sheet uponsaid ink fountain and comprising an elongated substantially U-shapedmember embodying a pair of resilient clamping jaws and in 'which' saidmember. includes handle or finger 1 clip portions, said portionsextending beyond the ends of said resilientclamping jaws and beyond theend walls of said ink fountain.

10. In a duplicating or printing machine or the like, the combination,of an ink fountain. an

00 ink fountain roller adapted to convey ink from to the grain of thematerial to thereby enhance said ink fountain to printing or duplicatingapparatus in the machine, a sheet adapted to be removably mounted uponsaid ink fountain in position to retain a quantity of highly viscous 06duplicating or printing ink or ink paste in said fountainin contact withsaid ink fountain roller but out of contact with the body of said inkfountain, and a plurality of spring clips for detachably securing saidsheet upon said ink fcuntain.matei'lalhavlngaaraintherein,the'emlwallsatv ROBERT C, SANDMAN.

9. In a duplicating or printing machine or

